By: Zuliana Ismail , 2010

At the end of this lecture, the student should

be able to:
Explain how Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) and
the Non-directional Beacons (NDB) works
Describe the purpose of ADF & NDB
Explain the advantages & disadvantages of ADF &
NDB.
INTRODUCTION TO NDB & ADF

Automatic Directional Finder

Non Directional Beacon

Definition
ADF is stand for Automatic Direction Finder.

NDB is stand for Non Directional Beacon.

ADF & NDB is the one of the older types of radio

navigation system that still in use today.

They still in use today because of its simplicity.

As it name, the signal transmitted by NDB does not

included directional information, but ADF
automatically searching for NDB signal.
ADF & NDB Equipments
Non Directional Beacon (NDB) is used in
conjunction with Automatic Direction Finder
(ADF) in the cockpit.
ADF equipments consists of 1) ADF antenna
(transmitter & receiver) outside aircraft’s body,
2) an ADF indicator inside the cockpit.
NDB equipment only consist of ground NDB
antenna located near the airport (airfield area).
ADF determines the direction to ground NDB
station.
ADF & NDB Equipment

ADF indicator inside ADF antenna outside

the cockpit aircraft ‘s body

Ground NDB stations is the

Tall antenna located near
the airfield
The purpose of ADF/NDB is to provide aid for aircraft
navigation by provide bearing information of aircraft
location to the airport. (aircraft direction or heading to
the airport in degrees(angle))
**Bearing: the angle which measured in a clockwise
direction.
NDB bearings provide a consistent method for defining
paths aircraft can fly. NDB can define "airways" in the
sky.
ICAO has assigned Low Frequency (LF) and
Medium Frequency (MF) band for NDB,
It is within 200 – 1750 KHz.
However, most of NDB equipments are found
operating within frequency band of 200-525
KHz.
How ADF & NDB works
NDB station radiates a non-directional signal in all
directions around its antenna (transmitter).
Station identification code(Callsign) in the form Morse
Code is also transmitted by the NDB.
An ADF selector in aircraft will tune to NDB’s
frequency in order to search its signals.
After NDB call sign is identified, the direction of
aircraft in BEARING to the NDB station will be
indicated.
ADF indicator in the cockpit will display the bearing to
the NDB station relative to the heading of the aircraft.
 The uses of NDB
Used for FLYING FROM NDB or HOMING TO NDB
when maintaining airway centre-lines.
Used for en-route navigational bearing
Used for HOLDING system before landing.
Used as markers for an Instrument Landing System
(ILS) approach
FLYING FROM or HOMING
TO NDB station

Flying From

Homing To
En-Route Navigation
Aircraft must maintain their heading using the
Automatic Direction Finding (ADF) in the cockpit.
Pilot must always watch the relative bearing indicator
to maintain the airway center line.
Holding System
NDB also can used as the markers for Instrument
Landing System (ILS) approach.
This type of NDB is also known as LOCATOR.
Locator is a low power NDB.
It has signal range within 10 to 25 Nautical
Miles.
Advantages of NDB
NDB signal can be received at low altitudes.
This is because NDB signal is based on surface
wave propagation (signal not limited to ‘line of
sight’ ).
NDB also can be used as the Back-Up system.
For example, during no signal given by the VHF
Omni-directional Range (VOR) system.
NDB system only requires low cost for their
maintenances.
NDB still important for many small airports.
Disadvantages of NDB
Limited Signal because of several factors
including:
1. Interference Effect
2. Thunderstorm Effect
3. Mountain Effect
4. Night Effect
5. Coastal Refractions
Interference Effect –interference occurs if an ADF
receives two or more signals radiated by NDB.

Thunderstorm Effect – Thunderstorm have very

powerful discharges of static electricity that can
interrupt the NDB signal. Needle of ADF indicator
sometimes points toward the storm.

Mountain Effect – Mountain areas can cause

reflections and diffractions and lead to the error
direction reading by ADF.
Night Effect – Low signal or no signal during night time
because contamination of radio wave.

Coastal Refractions– Also known as Shoreline Effect .

Surface wave travel in one direction over land, but
another direction over water (refraction). This can
cause error reading in ADF indicator.
The accuracy of NDB is +/- 5 degree for
approach and +/- 10 for en-route.

The accuracy of an NDB at any given time is

difficult to determine when considering all the
factors creating error.